Little talk of mayor's move

Few react to Brian Stratton leaving to take state job; Guidarelli not running

by lauren stanforth Staff writer

Published 12:00 am, Tuesday, February 15, 2011

SCHENECTADY -- Mayor Brian U. Stratton's anticipated move to be head of the state Canal Corp. met with only minimal commentary at the regular City Council meeting Monday night.

What can sometimes be a raucous public comment period on the second floor of City Hall resulted in a relatively silent response from residents about Stratton's exit, which will likely happen next month.

Regular commenter and one time City Council candidate Vince Riggi brought a navy baseball cap with the slogan "McCarthy For Mayor," emblazoned on the front, a nod to the fact that City Council President Gary McCarthy is considering running in Stratton's place for the November election. The cap was distributed when McCarthy ran unsuccessfully for the top city post in 1999.

Guidarelli, who lost to Stratton in 2003 by only 300 votes, said he could not devote the time to campaigning now that he has taken a part-time development position with the Warren-Washington ARC, a cause close to him as he has used the nonprofit services for a family member.

Guidarelli stopped short Monday of endorsing who would have been one of his adversaries, third-party candidate and former Union College president Roger Hull. But Guidarelli said the Republican party should consider it. "I believe Roger Hull's candidacy should be given serious consideration," said Guidarelli, who still might run for a county legislature post.

Back at the City Council meeting, the hottest topic was the Council's 6-to-1 vote to approve a settlement with the Police Benevolent Association that will give the city $400,000 in health insurance savings, while promising a 3 percent raise for officers in 2013. City Council members said they felt they had to agree to the settlement to avoid what would likely be an unfavorable result if the matter went to binding arbitration.

City Council also approved a payout of more than $72,000 for Fire Chief Robert Farstad when he retires in April. Farstad's compensation has been controversial since the public learned he was afforded the ability to earn up to $126,000 in overtime to correct a past mistake in his pension status. Stratton took the overtime away, but the payout covers a previous agreement that provides sick and vacation time, the city's attorney has said.

Stratton gave brief comments Monday at the meeting's end saying he's honored to receive the state post, and then he commented at length on proposed federal cuts in community development block grant money and other programs that would cripple cities like Schenectady.

McCarthy said the city owes Stratton a debt of gratitude for his seven years in office, and then joked about Stratton missing out on public comment period, in which residents regularly rail on the mayor and City Council members twice a month.

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"I'm going to miss that most of all," Stratton said, smiling. McCarthy reminded him he can watch the meetings live on cable access.